Women Contribution in Developmental Processes in Igboland: 1925 – 2020

Abstract

This work represents one of those responses to the call of Frederick Engels who stated that all history must be studied anew. In Igbo society, the contribution of Women in the developmental processes needs to be revisited as part of the academic and as members of the society whom their activities forms the historical development of the people. Among other things it seeks to address the Nri mythology upon which all credit about the socio[1]economic and political development of the Igbo society are placed and all credit goes to male gender. To that effect, the present writer seeks to use this work to join his voice to that of early scholarship before him to demonstrate women’s contribution in area of commerce, agriculture, craft and manufacturing. This is because as farmers, traders, potters and weavers, these women were able to translate their economic success into the society thereby contributing to the transformation of the socio-economic and political development of Igboland. The clear possible example was the economic crisis of Igbo society from 1970s onward that reveals the foundations upon which Igbo masculinities were built and how it has shifted gradually as women become important actor in political and socio[1]economic stage of the society.